“Things have taken a sudden change since I saw
you last summer,” went on Maurice Vane.
“Perhaps it will be as well if I tell my whole
story.”

“I’d like first rate to hear it.”

“After I got those shares of stock I felt that
I had been swindled, and I was very anxious to get
hold of the rascals. But as time went on and
I could not locate them I resolved to look into the
deal a little more minutely and see if there was any
chance of getting my money, or a portion of it, back.”

“I should have done the same.”

“I wrote to a friend out West and he put me
in communication with a mining expert who set to work
to find out all about the mine. The expert sent
me word, late in the fall, that the mine was, in his
opinion, located on a vein of gold well worth working.”

“What did you do then?”

“I wanted to go West at once and look into the
matter personally, but an aunt died and I had to settle
up her estate and see to the care of her two children,
and that held me back. Then winter came on, and
I knew I’d have to let matters rest until spring.”

“Are you going out there in the spring?”

“Yes,—­as early as possible, too.”

“I hope you find the mine a valuable one, Mr.
Vane.”

“I place great reliance on what the mining expert
said, for he is known as a man who makes no mistakes.”

“Then, if the mine proves of value, you’ll
have gotten a cheap piece of property after all.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Won’t those swindlers be mad when they
hear of this!”

“Most likely, my lad; but they have nobody to
blame but themselves. I bought their shares in
good faith, while they sold them in bad faith.”